Car shifter



April 7, 1925.

A. T. PERKINS CAR SHIFTER Filed Jan. 51, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 7,l92 5y A. 1'. PERKINS CAR SHIFTER Filed Jan, 31, 1924 SShets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNIT-,En

y PATEN T .051:1 ce."

Au'eusrus r. rnnmns, or oA-K ranma-minors, Assrenon 'ro wnnsrnn Mme.00M- BANY, ork Curone-o, rLnrNoIs, a eonnonarron on entre..

' 'Application vfiled Januaryfl, 192e; Serial No. 639,630.

To @ZZ fr/@0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I,A.Uerus'rus lT. PinnnrNs, a citizen `ot the UnitedStates, and residen-t `ofi @ali Park, Cook County, nois, have invented acertain new vand ns( 'ul Improvement in' Car Shifters, ol whiclfr thefollowing is a specification. l Y

lhis invention relates to apparatus for moving cars `on track-s, andmore particu.A larly to apparatus of; this kind tor-shifting lire on toan unloading lappara-tus, or r'for any other purpose.

The object off the invention, t-l-iereliore, generally ystatecbrs toprovide a novel and v impro-ved apparatus, operated hydraulically orybyother suitable power, toen-gage a car and shiit it along-the track, orlor pushing several cars along at a tiine, in an easy and expeditiousinanner, so that the Acars may be ino-ved troni one place .to another,as 1n iuinloading cars liilled with grain, or for any other purpose,and-whereby the necessityroft using a locomotive will be obviated.

It is'also an object to provide lcertain do `tails and features orconstruction and conibinait-ions tending to increase the generalefficiency and the desirab-l-illty of a carslhiiiting apparatus of 'thisparticular' charactr-ir.

'llo theseand other usetul ends thein-vention `consists inmattershereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the' accompany ingdran-'ings in which- Figure l is a side lelevation of a car shiftingapparatus embodying the principles -ot the invention, showingM-onc endportion thereof broken away lier convenienceoi' illustration. y

Figure 2 is a similar view showing that portion ot the apparatusomitted-in Figure l7 the two figures together constituting a completeside elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line '3 3 in Figure l. I

Figure t is an enlarged sideel-evation of the traveling `carriage whichengages the cars to niove them troni one place to ,an-y other.

Figure 5 is a detail sec-tionen linef5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the saidapparatus.

Figure 7 is a plan ofthe appara-tus shown in Figure l6.

ght cars, such as cars containing grain,

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of'some oil? the apparatus sho-wn inFigure'2.

v- As thus illustrated, referringI to Flgures l and 2, the inventionconi-prises a carriage l having wheels 2 JChat travel on `the tracks 3`located in lthe space l 4suitably formed' below the leve-l of the rails5 upon which the cars travel. This carriage has its upper portion 16connected by oblique portier-1s 'T with the pivotal points 8 on thecarri-age l,

which 'latter is horizontal, these pivotal points provi-'ding alongitudinal axis about which 'tlfieportion '6 is free -to swingsidewise, as indicated in 'dotted lines i-n Figure 3 oi' the drawings.*For prope'lling lthe carriage l i-n `a direction 'to cause thedesired`shiti inovernent el the cars, a cable 9l is connected tothe front end'thereof, and isthen traifified around the sheaves and l1 inou-nited -euthe body traine l3nt the apparatus, and also around lthe sheave l2mounted lon the travel? `g 4cal-'ringe 14, which latter has u els l5that 'travel onthejtraehs la?) provided for thi-s purpose. The end oitthe rope or cable or Aother flexible connection 9' is attac-hed'at l? tova statioi-iary'portionof the body irai-ne lf3, whereby a ngiovenientof' the ycarriage 'il away from the ysheaves l0 and 1l will cause thebinnper 6 to travel toward said sheaves, thereby yto move the oars inthe desired manner. y y i For the operation of the 'carriage 14 one endthereof is connected by a rod 118 with the pistonl i9 in thehydraulic:cylinder 21"), the latter bein-g `supplied with fluid pressureinany suitable or desired ina-nner, therel to nieve thepiston bach andforth -th-ei i. The rod 18 has its niiddle portion provided with a'carriage '21' having wheels 22? that travel von the tracks 116previously inentioned, tihus supporting the yredyagain-st if previouslymentioned. This carriage is connected by rods with `the carriage 1li, sothat tifietwo carriages ni-ove in unison, the rods or connectingniernbers being' sup.- port'ed' by guide rollers 26 on the carriage 2lpreviously mentioned. These nreinbers can be wire ropes, if such isdesired, 'or

any other connection can be used. When the piston 19 moves toward thesheaves 10 and 11, the rod 18 communicates this movement to the carriage14, and the latter exerts a pull on the member 25 which iscomn'iunicated to the eairiage 23, whereby the bumper 6 and the carriage1 are returned to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, afterhaving been moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. This, it will be seen, is accomplished through the mediumot a cable 27 which has one end fastened to the carriage 1 and is thentrained around the sheaves 2S, 29 and 30, the sheave 28 being mounted onthe carriage Q3, while the sheaves 29 and 30 are mounted on the bodytrame oit the apparatus, and the other end of this cable 2T is thenattached to the body trame at 31, whereby movement of the carriage 23toward the sheaves 10 and 11 will cause the carriage 1 to tiavel in theopposite direction. lVhen the piston 19 moves away from the sheaves 10and 11, the cable 9 then exerts a pull on the carriage 1 to draw thelatter toward the sheaves 1() and 11, and the carriage 23 will be movedtoward the sheave 29 until the carriage 1 arrives at the positionindicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 et the drawings. l

rllhus, in use, the carriage 1 is placed in position with the bumper 6against one end ot one et the cars, as` shown in Figure 2, and thepiston 19 is then operated to draw the carriage la away from the sheaves19 and 11, thus causing the carriage 1 and the bumper G to push the carsforward in the desired direction. `When the last car is disposed of, asshown in Figure 1, and when the bumper 6 has traveled as tar as it can,this bumper is then swung outward tothe position shown in Figure 3, sothat it may pass any carsv which have been pushed on to the track in themeantime by a locomotive, ory by other means. When the piston 19 isreversed the carriage 1 and the bumper (l will then travel back to theposition shown in Yfull lines in Figure 2, and the bumper 6 can then beswungback into position to engage a car, and the operation will then berepeated. Ot' course, the apparatus can be used to move one car at atime, if it is not expedient or desirable to move several cars at thesame time. In such case, the bum er 6 will engage the car nearest theunloac ing apparatus (not shown) and will move this car into position.Then the motion will be reversed and the bumper will .move back alongone side ot the next car, until it is in position to be swung over intoengagement with the end of this car. In this way the bumper can moveback to starting point at one side of a car, or at one side of severalcars, and the apparatus can be used to move one car at a time or severalcars at the same time.

The bumper can engage one end ot' a car standing on a track, move thecar along in the desired direction, and then disengage yand move alongand engage the other eud ot the car, it it be desired to then return thecar in the opposite direction.

Thus the necessity for using a locoinotive is obviated, so tar as thework of moving the cars one at a time into unloading position isconcerned, the only use t'or a locomotive being that which is necessaryoutside ot the range et operation ot the hydraulically operatedapparatus shown and described. A line of cars can be delivered inposition, by a locomotive, and then the locomotive can withdraw and doother work while the apparatusshown and described is being employed tomove the cars one by one, or successively, into position for theunloading of the contents thereof. It will be seen, therefore, that theinvention contemplates a car moving apparatus to be employed as anadjunct, or as something auxiliary to a car unloading apparatus, or ofapparatus for even loading the cars, or for doing other work. ln otherwords, the apparatus can be used for shitting the cars for any suitableor desired purpose, and contemplates the use of a bumper which willtravel in a slot 3Q termed at one side et the rails 5 previouslymentioned, this slot being wide enough to permit the bumper to swinglaterally to one side, so that it can return to starting point in themanner described. By referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will beseen that the slot 32 is immediately below the left hand rear and lowercorner ot the car, but it is obvious that the bumper may be used ateither side of the rails 5, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The cylinder 2O is supported in any suitable manner, otcourse, in stationary position, and the operation of the piston 19 iscontrolled in any suitable or desired manner, thereby to ensure the modeof operation shown and described.

lith the arrangement shown and described, which is illustrative ot theinvention, it will be seen that the entire apparatus is practicallybelow ground, and below the plane of the rails 5 upon which the carstravel. The upper portion of the member 7 is exposed, and extendsupwardly through the slot 32, and is iree to travel along in this slotin the manner described. Moreover, the member T travels "faster than thepiston 19, inasmuch as the sheaves multiply the speed, whereby acomparatively short travel et the piston will result in a considerablygreater travel on the part of the member 7 and the cars on the track.rlhus, with a stationary power device having only relatively low speed,and a comparatively short range ot motion, the cars are shi'lted atrelatively high speed and with a much lltl Thus one and the same-elementis adapted for pushing a :car in either direction, and is adapted to`engage either end lof .the car for this purpose. rllhereiore, offcourse, the element '6 iis operative to engageone of the cars shownVand push Lit to fthe right, or the apparatus may `be moved .alongfsothat this element can engage the other end voft this same f car, andthen push the carin the opposite direction. V"lhus'ft-he .ear pusher :is

rever-'sible for the purpose 'of pushing fears in opposite directionsonlone and ithe `same track, .and pushing `of a rar, or `of .severalcars, in either direction, is accomplished Lby a single element adaptedto engage either end -oi1 a car. Y

`YVhat I claim yas my invention isg-ll. In apparatus iorfshittingrailway `,cars along a track, the combinatioir Vof travelingcarriagemovable parallel with the:tra'ck, having-a member adjustably 'mountedthereon for engaging and disen-gagingeither.end

ot the car, for pushing :the car ,fin either direction, and`instrumental-ities :includ-ing a power device in stationary ipositionand a cable system and sheaves :cooperating to cause `back and vforthmovement of said carriage at greater "speed than the speed off saidpower device, whereby cars are anovable successively along said.ts-rack, some .distance, in either direction, Iwith relatively slightmovement @t Isaid power device.

A structure a-s specified in claim fl, said power device comprising aiuid operated piston, said iustrumentalities comprising cables attachedto the opposite'ends Aoff said carriage, sheaves mounted on station-`ary yportions oit the apparatus Ito support said cables, and traveling:carriages xoperated back `and `forth by said Apiston to cause saidcables to move carriage in either direction.

3. A structure :as specified .in claim d, said instrumentalities`comprising a sheave` carriage operated by said power device, anothersheave carriage operated by said iirst mentioned sheave carriage, cablesattached to the opposite ends of said engaging member carriage andtrained around the sheaves of; said sheave carriages, and sheavesmounted ou stationary portions of said apparatus to support said cables,whereby movement oi the two sheave carriages in one direction will movethe engaging member carysaid `member :and its` ria'ge iin 'the oppositedirection, while nievement :said :sheave carriages in `the op positsidirection will more said engaging member 'carriage in :said :onedirection l yst. A structure as specified in claim l, sa'icllfmemberbeing pivoted to .tilt :out oi the path @of the car-s, whereby themember and its carriage Lmay be returned to starting point alongonesdefoi ione or more cars, the wrange .of travel fof 'said memberbeing greater than the ranger oi' motion ici' said deviee.-

5. A structure as specified in .claim l, said laippfaratusl comprisingmeans tor ;enclosin'gsaid carriageand forming sa 4slot for said 'member.at one side of the Vtrack upon which fthe ,cars-travel, along which:slot said aneinber s free to travel, so Vthat except iior said membertithe apparatus -is venclosed, together wiith tracks below said slot tosupport said carriage, said slot being narrower than the carriage. i

i6. A structurev fas specified Ain claim 11, said 'power :devicecomprising a .cylinder having 'a .hydraulically seperated pistontherein, land sheave carriages operated "by said piston,` together with`cables operated by said sheave carriages, all forming .a part offsaidyinstrumentalities.

a car shifter, the .combination of -a caiuiage arranged to travel atfone side oit the track upon which :the cars travel, an undergroundtrack yfor saidcarriage, Awhereby the carriage :is operative in a vplaneibelozw the ,plane of said track, anrexposedmember on 4said Acarriage toengage and move the cars in either direction on said track, apparatus,below the'underground track tol operate said carriage, andmeans fiorpermitting lateral movement fot said member, whereby .-the carriage andits said abovegrou-nd member may itravel :along at one side foi one ormorezcars. i8. 1A Astructure asl specified in claim 7, in combination`with ,means including cables andfspeed multiplying shcavesan-d a powerdevice ttor lmoving said carriage Ain either direction of travelthereof.

A. structure .as specified in claim 7,

, in fcombination with a piston :and .cylinder and :means operatedthereby l-to move said carriage with said member thereon in eitherposition lthereof. d0. .A structure ,asfspeciied in cla-iin 7, saidmeans for permitting lateral movement of said :member Ecomprising pivots:forming a longitudinal axis -oi movement for said member below groundon said carriage.

11. A structure as specified in claim 7, comprising means to enclosesaid carriage and to form a slot at one side of the car track, in whichslot said member is adapted to travel, said slot being narrower thansaid carriage but of a width to permit said lateral movement of saidmember,

Mio

1Q. A railway car shifter comprising means movable in either directionat one side of the car track, parallel therewith, adapted to engage andpropel a car or cars along the track, and to disengage a shifted car andtravel back to get another car, the same element of said engaging meansbeing operative to engage either end of a car standing on the track,thereby to push the car in either direction, and means operating atrelatively slow speed by hydraulic pressure to operate said engagingmeans at relatively high speed.

13. In apparatus for shifting railway cars on a track, the combinationof a traveling shifter carriage having a member thereon for engaging thecar, a guide parallel with the track for said carriage, below the planeof the track, and instrumentalities including a power device instationary position to cause back and forth movement of said carriage inthe desired manner, said instrumentalities comprising a sheave carriageoperated by said power device, another sheave carriage operated by anddisposed in the plane of said first mentioned sheave carriage, in aplane below said shifter carriage, cables attached to the opposite endsof said engaging member carriage and trained around the sheaves of saidshe-ave carriages, and sheaves mounted on stationary portions of saidapparatus to support said cables, whereby movement of the two sheavecarriages in one direction will move the engaging member carriage in theopposite direction, while movement of said sheave carriages in theopposite direction will move said engaging member carriage in said onedirection.

1.1L. In apparatus for shifting railway cars on a track, the combinationof a traveling shifter carriage havng a member thereon for engaging thecar, a guide parallel with the track for said carriage, below the planeof the track, and instrumeutalities including` a power device instationary position to cause back and forth movement of said carriage inthe desired manner, said power device comprising a cylinder having ahydraulically operated piston therein, and sheave carriages in a planebelow said shifter carriage, operated by said piston, together withcables operated by said sheave carriages, all forming a part of saidinstrumentalities.

15. ln a car shifter, the combination of a carriage arranged to travelat one side of the track upon which the cars travel, a member on saidcarriage to engage the cars, and means lfor permitting lateral movementof said member, whereby ythe carriage and its said member may travelalong at one side of one or more cars, in combination with a piston andcylinder and means operated thereby to move said carriage with saidmember thereon in either position thereof.

16. In apparatus for shifting cars, thc combination of a travelingcarriage having a member thereon for engaging the car, andinstrumentalities including a power device in stationary position tocause back and forth movement of said carriage in the dcsired manner,said apparatus cominising means for enclosing said carriage and forminga slot for said member at one side of the track upon which the carstravel, along which slot said member is free to travel, so that exceptfor said member the apparatus is enclosed, together with tracks belowsaid slot to support said carriage, said slot being narr-ower than thecarriage.

17. In a car shifter, the combination of a carriage arranged to travelat one side of the track upon which the cars travel, a member on saidcarriage to engage the earsq and means for permitting lateral movementof said member, whereby the carriage and its said member may travelalong atr one side of one or more cars, comprising means to enclose saidcarriage and to form a slot at one side of the car track, in which slotsaid member is adapted to travel, said slot being narrower than saidcarriage but of a width to permit said lateral movement of said member.

18. In a car shifter, the combination of a carriage arranged to travelat one side of the track upon which the cars travel, an undergroundtrack Afor said carriage, an exposed member on said carriage to engagethe cars, and means for permittingr lateral movement of said member,whereby the cai riage and its said above ground member may travelalongat one side of one or more cars, comprising means to enclose saidcarriage and to form a slot at one side of the car track, in which slotsaid member is adapted to travel, said slot being narrower than saidcarriage but of a width to permit said lateral movement of said member.

AUGUSTUS T. PERKINS.

BIS

